Collier parents question 'bring your own device' program

Bring your own device or bring your own distraction? Controversy swirls over Collier County's newest program for students.

"I had reservations from the start that putting technology in the hands of students is just another distraction," said Erika Donalds, organizer of the Parents Rock group.

'Parents Rock' is a group tasked with bringing parents concerns to the Collier County School Board.

Donalds wrote a letter to superintendent Kamela Patton -- questioning bring your own device or B.Y.O.D.

"This is something parents are very interested in and the overuse of technology in schools," said Donalds.

Like other parents - Donalds doesn't want her kids relying on technology for answers.

Collier County parent Kelly Lichter couldn't agree more.

"Is there research out there that says B.Y.O.D. actually increases academic achievement? Does it improve our literacy, writing skills, communication?" said Lichter, "I haven't found research that shows that."

Lichter is running for the district one seat on the Collier County school board next August.

A former teacher herself - she wonders how one would juggle students who choose not to participate in B.Y.O.D.

"If I were in the trenches right now, I don't even know how I'd handle that if some kids have the devices and some didn't," said Lichter.

Even though some people say that students love the program - Lichter isn't buying it.

"Yeah kids love phones. My kids love candy, ice cream, cake but there's a time and a place for that. Again, I'll keep going back to the school day is a very sacred time for learning, it's not about oh the kids like it," said Lichter.

Pelican Marsh Elementary is one of the schools in phase one of the program. Principal James Gasparino says so far, it couldn't be better.

"We really haven't had that kind of negative feedback - it's been very positively accepted," said Principal James Gasparino, "I see B.Y.O.D. as a logical extension to what we've currently been doing as part of our technology program. It's been able to allow us to expand and to extend that learning, provide us with another tool that allows us to apply information and get immediate feedback and assessment of our student learning."

However, some parents disagree.

"That's why we organized Parents Rock. So we can take these kind of issues that concern parents about education and put them out there," said Donalds.

The Parents Rock group plans on getting together over the next few weeks to iron out a presentation with their concerns on B.Y.O.D. They hope to pitch that to the Collier County school board in January.